Pacific Herring © Monterey Bay Aquarium A Model Fishery for One of the Ocean’s Most Important Fish Although small, never underestimate the importance of Pacific herring. Referred to as forage fish, herring—like sardine and anchovy—form the foundation for a healthy ocean food web. Herring are also a healthy source of protein for people, arguably one of the most sustainable fish choices vailablea to Californians. A Vital Food Source for Wildlife From Alaska to California, Pacific herring are a vital food source for birds, marine mammals and larger fish. In northern California waters, when herring gather to spawn in Humboldt, Tomales and San Francisco Bays an incredible wildlife spectacle often occurs. Humpback whales, killer whales, porpoises, salmon, California sea lions, northern fur seals, and dozens of other ocean animals feast on herring as a rich source of nutrients. Thousands of seabirds and shorebirds, including scoter, scaup, wigeon, harlequin duck, black brant, brown pelican, rhinoceros auklet, and turnstone also feast on the eggs. Humpback whales lunge feed on forage fish in Monterey Bay. © Chase Dekker/Shutterstock But herring are in trouble and need our help. Herring spawn in less than 2 percent of the West Coast’s estuaries and protected coves. Herring populations from British Columbia through San Francisco have declined due to the cumulative effects of climate change, habitat loss and fishing pressure. That’s why Audubon California and Oceana have fought since 2012 to protect and restore herring by saving spawning habitat in Humboldt and San Francisco bays and promoting sustainable fisheries. Left: A great blue heron takes flight with a herring. © Roy W. Lowe; Middle: A California sea lion basks in the sun. © NMFS; Right: Black and surf scoters. © Tony Brake © NOAA New Management Framework An Iconic Urban Fishery San Francisco Bay is home to the largest spawning population of herring along the entire U.S. West Coast and the only current hub • Ensure precautionary of commercial herring fishing in California. The San Francisco Bay management of commercial herring fishery is an iconic part of history and culture in the area, herring fisheries in San Francisco often referred to as one of the few remaining “urban” fisheries Bay. because nets are sometimes deployed right off Fisherman’s Wharf > Catch no more than and the Sausalito waterfront. 10 percent of the total estimated population. A New Framework for Protecting Pacific Herring Years of dedicated work on behalf of > Close the fishery if the Audubon, Oceana, herring fishermen population falls below and the California Department of 15,000 tons. Fish and Wildlife have culminated in > Set a maximum catch limit the state’s first Fishery Management of 3,300 tons. Plan for herring in California. Once adopted by the California Fish and • Protect spawning areas. Game Commission, this plan will be a formal agreement to achieve long- • Adjust catch limits based on term sustainability of a healthy herring population. The Plan is the first ocean ecosystem needs, such as of its kind that complies with the Commission’s 2012 Forage Species the reliance of marine mammals, Policy which aims to enhance protections for these vital species that fish and birds on herring as food. support the entire ecosystem. The Plan is scheduled to be discussed and This would be the state’s first adopted by the Commission in late 2019 and will result in a broad set of Fishery Management Plan to new and stronger statewide regulations to protect herring. explicitly consider the needs of The completion and adoption of the Fishery Management Plan will be a the ocean ecosystem. major victory toward protecting herring as a vital food source for birds, • Keep the fleet of fishing vessels marine mammals and fish; and for ensuring a sustainable herring fishery in San Francisco Bay at its into the future. current size. • Protect younger fish from being FOR MORE INFORMATION caught before they spawn by maintaining the current OCEANA AUDUBON prohibition on purse seine nets. www.oceana.org/foragefish http://ca.audubon.org/pacific- herring-conservation-program • Prevent expanded commercial fisheries in areas outside of San Twitter: @Oceana_Pacific Twitter: @AudubonCA Francisco Bay unless and until Facebook: @OceanaPacific Facebook: @audubonca science shows increased fishing will be sustainable. • Place daily limits on recreational herring fishing. Killer whales cruise along the Pacific coast. © Tory Kallman/Shutterstock; Above: Harbor seals. © Ashley Blacow-Draeger.